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C.A.T.S
Providing a home for feral cats
A feral cat's needs in a home are no different from those of a pet cat. The only difference is they've grown up in an environment without human contact so find people big, scary things to be frightened of.
It can take months, or years for a feeder to gain the trust of a cat and may be rewarded by being allowed to give them strokes and fuss, but always on the cats own terms. Some cats, given the opportunity, will move into your house, have cuddles on the sofa, but some never will.
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Please bear this in mind when offering an 'alternative' home for these cats as they need to be given the opportunity and encouragement to choose the life they want.
Housing
The cats will need a safe place to call home. That can be an outbuilding, stable, utility room adapted shed. It needs to be weatherproof, and secure. Power and lighting is preferred, even if it's just with an extension cable, so cats can have anti-frost heating or heated beds for the winter months. ( This is essential if cats are rehomed in the colder winter months )
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They will need feeding and welfare checks twice a day. This is also when the cats can start to bond with their feeders and build a relationship with them, so be prepared to spend the time and effort.
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Ongoing cat care
All feral cats placed by us will be health checked by a vet, neutered, flea / worm treated and microchipped. In addition to feeding and befriending, ongoing care will mean the cats need regular flea worm treatment. This is usually achieved by putting meds in their food, or using a spot-on treatment if you can get close enough to them.
On the unfortunate occasion that one of your cats becomes ill, vet treatment may be needed. You may be able to get the cat to your vet yourself, if not you can contact us for help and advice.
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The setling- in process
There is a definite settling-in process required when introducing cats to their new home. The cats need to get used to the sights, sounds and smells of their home as well as any other cats already in residence.
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For this period ( 4 to 6 weeks) either a double crate set up will be needed in their 'home' unless the cat room is secure for them to settle into. They will need feeding twice daily and and litter tray cleaning at least once a day during this process.
This area will become their permanent home when the crates are taken down or the door/cat flap to the room is opened.
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Cats are never rehomed singly unless there is another cat present. Feral cats do best in small groups.
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Suitable locations
Cats can do well in a variety of places:
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Rural houses with large gardens, utility rooms, outbuildings, sheds or summerhouses.
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Farms with yards where people are regularly onsite, as long as the cats are not at risk from moving machinery and have a safe space to call home.
Livery yards and stables, as long as there are lots of places for the cats to hide out, explore, play, go mousing and people are regularly onsite.
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Other options are out there, as long as the cats are looked after and valued.
Remember we put in time and effort to rescue these cats from attrocious conditions and they need to go on and have a good life in a loving home .
Resources: See how it's being done all ready to get some inspiration
A set up in and out building on a farm. the cats are settled in here, get used to the other farm cats then chose what they want to do. Some live in the barms, some sleep in a toasty boiler room, some sleep in the owners house.
This is a winterised shed for feral cats for an existing group of cats who have all now been neutered, vet checked and are loved and looked after by their feeders.
This is a set-up in an unheated games room for settling a cat in. there is food litter and heated cat beds. This will be his permanent sleeping area unless he chooses to move in with the owners.
This is an example of the gold standard for an 'alternative' home.
This is a crate set-up for setting in cats. Two XXL dog creates are combined to give the cat room for a cat house, food and a littler tray. A cat house is usually provided in one half that will become the cats house when the crate is taken down.
This needsto be set up inside a suitable area that will be the cats final home.
Just one of the many methods to make an insulated cat box for a feral cat. You can see these in use in the feral cats shed video above. These boxes canbe combined with a microwave heat pad in the winter where there is no electrical power available. ( We recommend the 'snuggle safe' microwave head pad that stay warm for at least 10 hrs )